Background: Nicolas - the world's biggest snowman - is on display for children over the Christmas period - at a Paris winter garden. Some 35 tons of snow - brought from the Vosges mountains in eastern France was delivered to the capital in special refrigerated trucks. Built up on a body of scaffolding Nicolas keeps his shape by a network of pipes containing liquid at a temperature of minus 195 degrees Centigrade.

Nicolas speaks as well. Light entertainment radio from France-Inter - the snowman's sponsors - is relayed through his mouth.

SYNOPSIS: In Paris on Wednesday the world's biggest snowman began to take shape.

His body came in great shovelfuls from the Vosges mountains of France's eastern border with West Germany. The snow was delivered in refrigerated trucks -- all 35 tons of it brought by special order of the French light entertainment radio channel, France-Inter. Children seemed to take to the idea as well.

Three workers from the Vosges town of Gerardmer set about putting together Nicolas on his scaffolding skeleton.

But Christmas spirit isn't enough to keep the snowman intact. Without science he'd melt in the warmer Paris air. So a network of pipes act as arteries for a liquid at a temperature of minus 195 degrees centigrade. This makes sure that Nicolas stays firm and white for the thousands of children that are expected to visit him. But while he may have a cold heart, Nicolas is certainly talkative. A radio sunk deep inside him transmits France-Inter programmes. Though some of the children, perhaps, believe that Nicolas just happens to be very friendly.